Balaenopteridae Archives

Balaenopteridae - Blue Whale, Fin Whale, Humpback Whale, Minke Whale

There are eight species of baleen whales (filter-feeding whales) in this family. This family is also known as the rorqual whales. Rorqual is a Norwegian word for furrow. The whales in this family have furrows or grooves in their skin that run from their lower mouth to their stomach.

The whales in this family vary in size from the 25-30 foot long minke whale to the 65-90 foot blue whale. They filter feed on krill and other small crustaceans and ocean creatures. Most of the species in this family live in open ocean waters. In the winter, they breed in temperate ocean waters.

In the summer, they migrate to cold polar waters that are rich in krill and plankton. Species in this family include: the minke whale, the sei whale, the blue whale, the fin whale, the humpback whale, and Bryde’s whale.

Humpback Whale
(Megaptera novaeangliae)

Humpback whales are highly migratory and are found in all oceans. They are found in waters off the coast of New Hampshire. The humpback whale is listed as an endangered species in the U.S. IUCN Redlist Status: Least Concern
Common Minke Whale
(Balaenoptera acutorostrata)

Minke whales travel either alone or in small groups of 2-4 individuals. In Antarctic waters, minke whales make up most of a killer whale's diet (up to 85%). It is found in waters off the coast of New Hampshire. IUCN Redlist Status: Least Concern
Blue Whale
(Balaenoptera musculus)

A blue whale's tongue can weigh as much as an elephant. It is listed as an endangered species in the U.S. IUCN Redlist Status: Endangered
Bryde's Whale
(Balaenoptera edeni)

Bryde’s whale is found in tropical and sub-tropical waters throughout the Atlantic, Pacific. and Indian Oceans. IUCN Redlist Status: Least Concern.
Fin Whale
(Balaenoptera physalus)

At 59-72 feet in length and 30-80 tons, fin whales are the second-largest animal on Earth. It is listed as an endangered species in the U.S. IUCN Redlist Status: Vulnerable
Sei Whale
(Balaenoptera borealis)

The sei whale can swim at speeds of up to 34 miles per hour. It is listed as an endangered species in the U.S. IUCN Redlist Status: Endangered
Omura’s Whale
(Balaenoptera omurai)

Omura's whale has only been identified since 2003. It was previously thought to be a pygmy form of Bryde’s whale.